Archive for July, 2007

In episode 2 we meet Babu. He was great talker and I had a hard time editing 45 minutes of conversation down into a reasonable podcast time. Its still a bit long but I can’t find 5 minutes to take off. If you have thoughts on that, leave them in the comments as it will help me in future shows. In the meantime, listen to the outtakes by clicking on the players below the photos.

Here is the first episode of Meter Down podcast. You can listen to the episode while looking at the pictures (nicer) by clicking the player below, or listen in your default player by clicking on Hari Lal Yadav’s name below the Podcast Feed button on the sidebar to the right or listen and subscribe in iTunes by clicking on the iTunes icon in the sidebar. Also, I have included two small outtake clips which can be found below in this post.

This is the back of Hari Lal’s taxi. Look closely to see his name written on the left and right of bottom of the wind screen. The design is suraj, the sun.http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/745265_ryeds/outtakedesign_1-2.mp3
Click on the player above to listen to an outtake from our conversation where we spoke about his design, how much it cost, where he had it done, why he chose it. We also discuss a recently revoked rule put out by the RTO that forbade taxis to have designs on the back window. The rule was in effect for about 15-20 days and then just as mysteriously as it appeared, it was rescinded. In the meantime, taxis across the city were getting fines of Rs. 1,000 or Rs 1,200. Many taxis removed their designs, their words. Few have put them back again. In these taxis, the ghostly image of what was there on the glass still remains if you look closely. One taxi I was in had a particularly beautiful and intricate design. The driver told me he had removed his complete back window and stored it until the ruling was reversed. Then he had it put back again. He said it was cheaper than having it redone. Hari Lal paid Rs. 400 in 1997 when he got his suraj. It is much more expensive today. There are so many blank windowed cabs now in our city; the absense of prose passing by.

The bank that holds his loan.

Nimbu -mirchi just in case

One more outtake follows. Hari Lal Yadav speaks about changes in Bombay in a very short clip. Click on the player.

I am going to be podcasting conversations with Bombay taxi drivers. I have uploaded the first podcast to hosting site and released the feed. Waiting for iTunes approval. Please read the About and leave your comments and critiques. This blog will have the shownotes and photos. In the meantime, as a coming attraction, let me leave you with some Bombay taxi images and their comments on love.